Centering means for blank-cutting dies



E. w. SAUERMAN CENTERING MEANS FOR BLANK CUTTING 'DIES Match 25, 1930,

Fiied April 28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 Ill 2171655 www March 25, 1930.E. w. SAUERMAN 1,751,603

CENTERING MEANS FDR BLANK CUTTING DIES Filed April 28, 1928 3Sheets-Sheet 2 fines 2 M50 uewna-Tg M'mh 25, 1930. E. w. SAUERMANCENTERING MEANS FOR BLANK CUTTING DIES Filed Apri l '28, 1923 "E elafljaaernmn- I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. .25, 193% STATES PATENTOFFICE ERNEST W. SA'UERMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TRANSOENVELOPE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOISGENTERING MEANS FOR BLANK-CUTTING DIES Application filed. April 28,

The present invention relates to a means for centering and properlypositioning a die for cutting blanks from sheetmaterial.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a centering meansfor such dies having certain features of novelty and utility over thoseknown to the prior art.

In some industrial processes, particularly U those in which paperbearing printing, lithographing and the like is to be cut, it is oftendesirable tocut the sheet of paper at a predetermined point relative tothe position of the matter upon the face of the sheet.

Such determination of the point of cutting is especially important inthe cutting of blanks for making envelopes, particularly those blanksfor making one-piece window envelopes. Incutting such blanks it ishighly important that the blank be out in such a manner that. when it isfolded, the window will assume the desired position upon the face of theenvelope whereby the incl-osure when placed within the envelope willhave the address thereon in proper position to be exposed through thewindow. z

The device of the present invention comprises a centering meanspivotally mounted relative to the blank cutting die, said centeringmeans being subjected to a constant spring tension whereby it isreturned to normal position after each cutting operation of the die. Thecentering means may-be universally adjustable to guide the die topositions whereby blanks will be out which will form envelopes withwindows spaced any distance desired from their lower, upper or sideedges.

As a feature of the present invention the centering means is verticallyadjustable to permit its base to rest flatly upon the sheet of materialto be cut when an adjustment is made for positioning the windowdifferently than it was positioned for a preceding cutting oporation.

The centering means may be assembled and disassembled very quickly,being completely removable from the die, if necessary, for repair orreplacement. I

As another feature of the present invention, 5 the'centering means maybe variabletrans- 1928. Serial No. 273,471.

versely and longitudinally. The device of the present invention alsopermits the use of a transverse and longitudinal scale by which theadjustments may be gauged,

Other objects, features andadvantages of the present invention will bemore apparent from the following detailed description.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating a sheet of paperwith a series of transparent windows formed thereonand the use of thecentering means of the present invention with a blank cutting die. I

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of a blank cutting die employing thecentering device of the present invention, the die being in a positionready to cut through a stack.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the die and centering deviceafter the die has cut through the stack.

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary front elevational 7 view of the centeringdevice.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. r

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig.4.

Fig. 7 is a view of one of the blanks cut by the blank cutting dieshowing some of the various positions ofthewindow.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of one specific form of centering means, thedie being broken so awa I Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional-view of theblank cutting die showing the normal position of the centering means. a

Fig. 10's a cross sectional view taken on 35 line 101O of Fig. 8. 1

Fig. 11 is a plan view of one of the removable longitudinal centeringelements.

As heretofore stated, the present invention in one specific embodimentthereof is directed particularly toward a die which is used for cuttingblanks for so-called one piece Window envelopes, which'is that class ofenvelopes having a portion of the front face made transparent so thatwhen an enclosure is placed within the envelope the address upon theenclosure will show through the window and thus dispense with thewriting of the address upon the face of the envelope. In manufacturingenvelopes of this character it is highly important that the blank be cutin a manner so that when folded the window will assume the properposition upon the face of the envelope relative to the upper and lower,as well as the side, edges of the envelope, for if such a position isnot assumed, the enclosure when folded and placed within theenvelopewill not have the address thereon in proper position to beexposed through the window. It is, therefore, of material importance toproperly center the cutting die with respect to these windows.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, asheet 1 of suitable material, such as paper, is illustrated havingformed thereon a series of transparent surfaces or portions 2 which areof a size and shape to constitute the windows of the envelope. The mostexpeditious way of manufacturing these envelopes is to form a pluralityof transparent portions on a large sheet of paper, then place severalsheets so formed in a stack, place the die on top of the stack and byone cutting operation cut out a plurality of envelope blanks.

The transparent surfaces are placed on these sheets in such a manner asto allow the die to be placed in proper position with respect'to thesesurfaces and yet eliminate, to all practical extent, any waste ofmaterial 7 during the cutting operation, the transparent surfaces beingspaced apart and positioned in a manner to allow the die to bepositioned with respect to the same so that practically all of the stockis utilized for blanks.

, The blank cut from a sheet is illustrated at 3, while a suitable dieconfigured so as to out a blank adapted to be folded into a completeenvelope is illustrated at 4.

Referring more in detail to the device of the present invention: Aportion of the side wall of the die 4111a be cut away as shown at 5 inwhich cut away portion 5 may be detachably mounted by suitable means,such as the screws 6, a stationary bracket 7. A

movable'supporting member 8 may be pivotally mounted, by means of a pin9 on the stationary bracket 7 A screw 10 having a locknut 11 may havethreaded engagement with the movable supporting member 8 whereby, aswill be more clearly apparent from Fig. 5, the downward pivotal movementof the said member 8 may be limited as desired. A spring 12, one end ofwhich may be anchored to the member 13 carried by stationary bracket 7and the other end secured to the or more slots 16, and having itstlowerportion--- turned out as at 17 may be 'detachably mounted on and securedtothe movable supporting member 8 by means of one or more screws 18, thelatter being passed through the slots 16 whereby the said T shapedmember 15 may be slidably adjustable relative to the member 8.

The edge of the turned out portion 17 may preferably be beveled, asshown at 19, to aid the operator to rapidly center the die relative toan edge of the window 2 of the sheet 1 from which the blanks 3 are to beout. One or more notches 20 may be provided in the edge 19 to aid theoperator to align the said edge 19 with the edge of the window 2.

An L shaped member 21 having a slot 22 may be mountedupon the turned outportion 17 of the T shaped member 15 by means of one or more spacedscrews 23, the latter passing through the slot 22 whereby the saidmember 21' may be slidably adjustable relative to the member 15'. Theleg portion 24' of the member 21 may be slightly depressed, i. e.,offset, to cause its lower face to be flush with an on substantially thesame plane at the lower face of the portion 17, and may have its inneredge beloved, as at 25', and notched, as at 26', for a purpose similarto the beveled edge 19 and notches 20' of the turned out portion 17 Therange of adjustment of the L shaped member 21 (Figs. 8 and 9) may belimited by the end 29'-of the said member contacting the wall of the die4. This limited movement may not permit adjustment to be made whichwould cover every position of'the window relative to the sides of theenvelope. To cover a range of adjustment which may not be possible withthe L member 21 illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the L shaped member 21illustrated in Fig. 11 may be used in place of the saidmember 21. saidmember 21 being used to center from the opposite side of the windowrelative to member 21. This member 21" may have a similar slot 22, a leg24', a beveled edge 25 andv a notch 26".

A gauge 27 comprising, for instance, a garduated scale, may be markedoil on the movable block 8 to serve as a guide to the window 2 relativeto the upper and loweredges of the envelope while the guide member isbeing regulated by means of the screw 10.

A similar gauge 28 may be marked off along the upturned edge 17 to serveas a guide to the operator in determining the position of the window 2relative to the side edges of the envelope while the L shaped member 21or 21 is being adjusted along the edge 17 In the use of the device: Anumber of the sheets 1 may be placed in a pile, their windows 2 beingall substantially aligned throughout the' said pile. The die 4 is placedover the pile of sheets in the manner shown in Fig. 1, the edge 19 ofthe centering means being aligned with the lower lateral edge of thetransparent port-ion 2, and the edge 25 of the leg 24 being aligned withone of the sides of the said transparent portion 2. By such alignment ofthe centering means with the transparent portion 2, all the portions ofthe blanks cut will be in proper correlation to the transparent portion2 whereby, when the blank is folded, the transparent portions 2 willassume the desired position with respect to the face of the envelopeformed.

Upon the proper amount of pressure being applied to the die 4 the diewill cut through the pile of sheets 1, the centering means pivoting onthe pin 9 to the position shown in Fig. 3 against the tension exerted bythe spring 13. N'Vhen the die 4 is lifted from the cut blanks the spring13 will cause the centering means to pivot back to normal position, thescrewlO contacting the inside of the wall of the die 4, as shown inFigs. 2 and 5.

To regulate the position of the transparent portion 2 in the foldedenvelope relative to the upper and lower edges thereof, the lock nut 11is loosened to permit the screw 10 to be rotated. Suppose it is desiredthat the transparent portion 2 on the completed envelope be spaced agreater distance from the lower edge than in a previous batch-byrotating the screw 10 toward the wall of the die 4, the centering meansis pivoted upwardly, the edge 19 moving further away from the portion ofthe wall contacted by the screw 10.

l/Vhen the proper adjustment is secured, the screws 18 are loosened topermit the T shaped member 15 to be slid upwardly and subselower face ofthe turned out portion 17 lies flat on the stack of paper sheets; thenut 11 is then tightened to lock the screw 10 and the screws 18tightened to retain the T member 15 lie flat on the surface of the sheet1 upon which the die 4 is resting. It is obvious that the height of thewindow on the completed envelope may be lowered by rotating the screw 10in an opposite direction, the screws 18 being loosened to permit the Tshaped member 15 to be slid upwardly and subse quently tightened in thatposition in which the lower face of the turned out portion 17 will lieflat upon the stack of paper sheets.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 I have illustrated the leg or finger 17 as beingan integral part of the T shaped member 15. This particular constructionmay be used in the cutting of envelopes in which the transparent pbrtionis always disposed a uniform distance from each side edge, and it isonly necessary to provide for adjustment between the upper and loweredges of the completed envelope. The construction illustrated in Figs. 8to 11 wherein the finger or leg 24 is part of the removable L shapedmember 21, is adaptable for use where it is desired to Vary the positionof the shaped in a position in which it will window relative to eitherside edge with or without adjustment of the position of thewindowrelative to the upper and lower edges thereof.

The device ischaracterized by-its simplicity and sturdiness ofconstruction and also by the ease with which-the variousindividual.

elements may be assembledand disassembled for the purpose of repair orreplacement.

The provision of the centering means which is adjustable longitudinallyand/ or transversely to vary the position of the transparent portion inthe completed envelope, eliminates the necessity of manufacturing andkeepingin stock a large number of dies having centering meanspermanently adjusted to take car of the many different dows called forby the trade.

To regulate the position of the window relative to the side edges of thecompletede'nvelope the screws 23. may be loosened and the 'L shapedmember 21 moved to and fro, as

maybe desired. As heretofore explained, the member21 shown in Figs. 8and 9 may not permit adjustments to be made which cover every positionof the window ofthe envelope relativeto the side edgesthereof. To covera range of adjustment which may not be. covered by the L shaped member21, shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the L shaped member 21 (Fig. 11) may bevsubstituted. Thus, the entire range of longitudinal adjustment which maynot be covered by one of the L shaped members will be covered-by theother. I

While in the foregoing detailed description I have described the useofthe centering device of the present invention with an envelope blankcutting die, it is to be expressly understood that it may be used withany type of blank cutting die adapted to cut blanks from sheet material.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a die having walls, a stationary bracket secured toone of said Walls, a supporting member pivotally connected with saidbracket, and a centering means mounted on said supporting member.

.2. In combination, a die having walls, a removable stationary bracketsecured to one of said walls, a supporting member pivotally connectedwith said bracket, and a centering means mounted on said supportingmember.

3. In combination, a die having walls, a stationary bracket secured toone of said walls, a supporting member pivotally connected with saidbracket, and an adjustable centering means mounted on said supportingmember.

4(In combination, a die having walls, a stationary bracket secured toone of said walls, a supporting member pivotally connected wit saidbracket, an adjustable centering means mounted on said supportingmember, and an auxiliary adjusting means positions of winmounted uponsaid centering means, said auxiliary means being longitudinallyadjustable relative to the centering means proper.

5. In combination, a die having walls, a stationary bracket secured toone of said walls, a supporting member pivotally connected with saidbracket, and an adjustable centering meansmounted on said supportingmember, said centering means being transversely adjustable. M n t 6. Incombination, a die having walls, a stationary bracket secured "to one ofsaid walls, a supporting member pivotally connected with said bracket,and an adjustable centering means mounted on said supporting member,said centering means being transversely adjustable and an auxiliaryadjusting means mounted upon said centering means, said auxiliary meansbeing longitudinally adjustable relative to the centering meansproper.

7. In combinatlon, a die having walls, a stationary bracket secured toone of said walls, a supporting member pivotally connected withsaidbracket, a centering means mounted on said supporting member, and atension spring cooperatively associated with the stationary bracket andthe supporting member. 7 i

8. In "combination, a die having walls, a

stationary bracket secured to one of said Walls, a supporting memberpivotally connected with said bracket, and a centering means mounted onsaid supporting member,

the lower edge of said centering means ing a portion cut away to form anotch.

In testimony whereof I afiix'my signature.

ERNEST W. SAUERMAN.

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